Saudi Arabia

Women who fought for the right to drive face 20 years in prison. Reports suggest they have been tortured and abused in detention.

After years of campaigning, the ban on driving for women in Saudi Arabia has been lifted. But the women who bravely fought for this right have been arrested and branded ‘traitors’.Email Saudi Arabia demanding that the rest are also returned home, and all charges are dropped.

Free Saudi women who fought for the right to drive

Article

Why the UK must stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia

In April 2016, our research team visited Yemen to collect evidence of human rights abuses. What we discovered was a UK-made cluster bomb, used by the coalition in a series of strikes on civilians.
Woman driving in Saudi Arabia
Woman driving in Saudi Arabia
Women's rights

Saudi women arrested for driving - not cars, but human rights change

Women in Saudi Arabia will finally be able to drive legally in June 2018. But in a cruel twist, 11 of the women human rights defenders who led the campaign have been arrested.
Article

Saudi Arabia’s execution toll hits 100

The country is already one of the most prolific executioners in the world, and they’re showing no signs of slowing down. We need you to stand with us in calling for further executions to be stopped.
Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: 'heartbreaking' two-year anniversary of jailed women's rights activists

Amnesty International has called on Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz to release prominent women’s rights defenders - two years after they were detained - describing their ongoing plight as “heartbreaking”.
Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: 'fearless' human rights activist dies in detention

Response to news of the death of Dr Abdullah al-Hamid, a prisoner of conscience who has died in detention in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia

UK: Premier League must consider Saudi human rights situation in Newcastle United deal

Amnesty International has written to the Chief Executive of the football Premier League, Richard Masters, raising concerns about the purchase of Newcastle United football club by a consortium of buyers including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
Women demonstrating for equal rights
Women demonstrating for equal rights
Blog

How much would you risk for basic women’s rights?

Here in the UK and in my home country, USA, women are often put in positions in which our physical safety and bodily autonomy are at risk, but at the same time, we haven’t really had to fight for our rights in the way many other women and girls around the world are right now. It’s all too easy for us to take our rights for granted. What would you do if fighting for your rights meant facing torture? 
Arms sales

Stopping arms flows to Yemen

Stopping arms flows to Yemen
Action

56,000 people called on the UK to stop arming the Saudi-led coalition

Many thanks to the tens of thousands of you who took action calling on the UK to stop arming the Saudi-led coalition. Your response has been incredible.
Article

Meet NSO Group: a go-to company for human rights abusers

A dubious WhatsApp message to Amnesty staff member nearly ended in disaster, as clicking the link would have installed highly potent spyware.
Action

Saudi Arabia: Drop charges against Israa and fellow activists

Saudi Arabia - drop charges against Israa and fellow activists
Aziza Yousef
Aziza Yousef
Action

Free Saudi women who fought for the right to drive

Women in Saudi Arabia are finally allowed to legally drive. But in a cruel twist, the women who fought for this right have been arrested.
Saudi arms trade

Arms to Saudi Arabia: court ruling a 'deadly blow' to Yemeni civilians

In a potentially “deadly blow” to Yemeni civilians a court has ruled that UK Government may continue its arms trade with Saudi Arabia. Read more.
A gravestone in Parliament Square commemorating the lives lost in Yemen in Saudi-led air strikes
A gravestone in Parliament Square commemorating the lives lost in Yemen in Saudi-led air strikes
Blog

Theresa May's "Global Britain" - prosperity over peace?

The Met police is investigating allegations of war crimes by Saudi Arabia in Yemen. Meanwhile, Theresa May is visiting Saudi Arabia, and her government continues to supply weapons to the country. What kind of messages is our Prime Minister sending out?

Five questions the UK government must answer regarding arms to Saudi Arabia

As we wait for the outcome of the legal challenge to the UK government's continuing arms sales to Saudi Arabia, here are five questions the UK government must answer. They owe it to us, and more so, to the people of Yemen.
Waleed Abu al-Khair
Waleed Abu al-Khair

Waleed Abu al-Khair, imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for defending human rights

Human rights lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair is serving a 15-year sentence for his human rights activism.

Waleed was charged under Saudi Arabia's strict counter-terror laws for activities like representing activists like Raif Badawi in court and discussing human rights in his own home. We're campaigning for Waleed to be released immediately.
Article

Exposed: British-made bombs used on civilian targets in Yemen

The bloody conflict has been raging for a year – but largely ignored by the rest of the world. Devastating air strikes, led by Saudi Arabia, have killed thousands of Yemeni civilians and destroyed homes, schools and hospitals.
Ali al-Nimr C. Private
Ali al-Nimr C. Private
Blog

'My heart is exhausted': A mother’s story of death row in Saudi Arabia

'When I first heard the verdict to execute my little boy, I felt as if a thunderbolt was hitting my head.'

Nassra al-Ahmed writes about her son, Ali al-Nimr, on death row in Saudi Arabia, and facing execution for going to protests there when he was 17.
Raif Badawi and his children
Raif Badawi and his children
Blog

One year since Raif was flogged, call for his freedom

In the year since Raif Badawi was flogged, Saudi Arabian authorities have continued their intense crackdown on free speech.

Raif is one of many people behind bars simply for exercising their human rights in the Kingdom. We continue to campaign for freedom for Raif and all imprisoned for speaking out.
Saudi Arabia's King Salman. Yoan Valat/AFP/Getty Images
Saudi Arabia's King Salman. Yoan Valat/AFP/Getty Images
Blog

Four reasons the UK needs a New Year’s resolution on Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia executed 47 people last week, yet the UK government continues to put business before human rights - refusing to criticise its trade ally.

From prison contracts to arms sales, its clear where our government's priorities are with Saudi Arabia.
Blog

Broken by its own champion – a very un-happy birthday to the Global Arms Trade Treaty

The global Arms Trade Treaty came into force last Christmas Eve. In many ways a very familiar story of a miracle birth, heralded as a new chapter for humankind.

One year on and it’s already been broken. More shockingly still, by its own self-declared greatest champion - the UK.